 
| CABINET COUNCIL APPROVES CANAL TOLLS STRUCTURE MODIFICATIONS Panama Canal, Panama |
| LIMITATION OF ANCHORAGE USE Mississippi River, United States |
| Cabinet Council approves Canal tolls structure modifications |
| Wednesday, August 9, 2017, Panama Canal, Panama |
| The Cabinet Council of the Republic of Panama officially approved a proposal to modify the Panama Canal tolls structure, following a recommendation from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors…
…The approved tolls modifications are scheduled to go into effect on October 1, 2017, at the beginning of the Canal’s fiscal year. For the containership segment, the approved tolls structure offers more attractive rates per loaded containers on the return voyage, applicable only to Neopanamax vessels deployed on the Canal route in the head and back haul legs, and when: (1) the utilization rate of the northbound transit is higher or equal to 70%, and (2) the time lapse between the northbound and the southbound transit is not greater than 28 days. In order to promote the use of the services provided within Panama’s logistics hub, any additional days that the vessel requires to perform port-related activities in the Panamanian terminals will not add to the 28- day period. The ACP’s tolls proposal had originally set 25 days as the maximum time lapse for the return voyage. After evaluation of the comments received during the consultation period, it was decided to extend this time frame to 28 days. The new structure modifies the tolls charged to liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, which will be set at the levels presented in the original tolls proposal. This decision was made after a careful analysis of the impact of the proposed increases in the supply chain and final user. Container/breakbulk vessels—formerly part of the others market segment—will be reclassified into the general cargosegment, thus resulting in more attractive tariffs for customers in this category. (For information about operations in the Panama Canal, contact GAC –Wilford & McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac. Source: Extract from Panama Canal Authority press release dated 8 August 2017 |
| Limitation of anchorage use |
| Wednesday, August 9, 2017, Mississippi River, United States |
| Due to interference with dredging operations at Belmont Crossing, MM 154 AHP, usage of the Belmont Anchorage will be temporarily limited.
There are currently two vessels anchored there, with one, the AGIOS MAKARIOS, scheduled to depart tomorrow and the other, the PANAMANIAN, scheduled to depart August 14. Until the PANAMANIAN leaves, no other vessels will be allowed to use Belmont Anchorage, and after it departs it can only be used by one ship at a time until dredging operations at Belmont Crossing are complete. (For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com) Source: Extract from Louisiana Maritime Association daily report dated 9 August 2017 |
